Founded in 1984, Streetwize Comics produces free educational comics for young people covering a wide range of issues. The comics communicate important messages in an easy-to-read format that young people can relate to, particularly disadvantaged youth. The comics, as well as other material including posters and educators' notes, deal with topics such as health and safety, legal issues, racism, sexual harassment, domestic violence, homosexuality, housing, employment, gambling, drug and alcohol abuse and other current social issues. They are developed in consultation with young people from the target audiences and are based on the philosophy that effective communication must be built around the perceptions and needs of the audience. Funding comes from federal and state government departments and community organisations.

The Powerhouse Museum collection contains a selection of comics from Streetwize, but mainly those editions dealing with health and safety. They illustrate the way in which government and community organisations approach the dissemination of health information to targeted groups (in this case, disadvantaged youth) and at the same time provide a record of the range of health issues affecting young people in the late 1990s.

'Mullwize!' contains a series of stories designed and drawn by young people about the dangers of mixing drugs and has a special focus on cannabis. It was funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care for the Byron Bay Community Partnerships Project 'In Trouble, Talk To Me'.

According to the credits page, 'Mullwize!' was 'designed and drawn by young people for young people'. Mullwize was one of the resources produced as part of the Byron Bay Community Partnerships Project "In Trouble Talk To Me". The project was funded under a grant from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care from the first round of the National Illicit Drug Strategy, Community Partnerships Initiative. The grant is auspiced by the Byron Bay Chamber of Commerce, NSW. The comic book was produced in September 1999 with the assistance of the production team at Streetwize Comics.

Comic book, 'Mullwize!', paper, Streetwize Comics, Australia, 1999

Portrait-format comic book with a colour illustration of two men smoking marijuana on the cover. The comic book bears the title 'Mullwize' in red and green print on a blue ground. The internal pages feature black and white illustrations and discusses the use of cannabis by young people. The comic is a series of stories designed and drawn by young people about the dangers of mixing drugs and has a special focus on cannabis.

Made: Streetwize Comics Ltd; Australia; 1999

2000/124/10

1999

277 mm

201 mm